Katie Burke, who co-owns the business with her husband, company founder Thomas Burke, confirmed Pomegranate began scouting Oregon locations as its Petaluma lease was set to expire.

Burke said she and her husband love Portland and wanted to move their art-related company to a more urban setting than their existing suburban location.

“Portland just kind of worked out,” she said.

She expects some of the company’s 30 employees to move to Oregon but details are still being worked out.

The company, which distributes its own work, will move into the 84,184-square-foot Southshore building, 19018 N.E. Portal, near Portland International Airport after racking and other equipment is installed.

Thomas Burke began Pomegranate as ThoFra Distributors, a poster distribution company, in San Francisco in 1968. The business began publishing art work in 1970. As the company grew, it moved north in pursuit of additional distribution space.